My work placement is with New World where I go every Friday afternoon. I mainly work at a checkout where you have to learn to handle money and operate the checkout. You also need social skills and to speak to the customers.

Before starting Gateway this year I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after school, I believed Gateway could solve this so I took Gateway to see if it would help

I researched careers and explored my interests, mainly wishing to work with my hands. My first taster day was in the jewellery industry, putting together valuable pieces and working with valuable metals, I really enjoyed it but unfortunately they were too busy to have me for my work placement so I decided to look at the retail industry.

I am completing a correspondence course on advanced customer service and have assessments on customer service techniques, customer behaviour, skills and qualities of a salesperson and applying product knowledge.  My supervisor at New World verifies the practical tasks I have to do and I have theory work to do in class.

I am gaining confidence and learning good people skills at New World. I plan to work when I leave school and would like a full time job in retail involving customer service to get me started.